Mike Hutton, named the best sports columnist in the state by the Hoosier State Press Association in 2007, has worked at the Post-Tribune for 11 years. He covers Notre Dame football, Indiana basketball, local golf and high school sports.

Zack Novak, Michigan and college basketball

Zack Novak. He's the reason I love college basketball so much. I watched Michigan upset No. 4 ranked UCLA Thursday and there was Novak, running around in a jersey with a 0 on it, stealing a couple of passes and generally looking comfortable as a Wolverine. Novak is playing about 15 minutes a game for Michigan. Mark it down. He'll be a double figure scorer for them before he graduates. This is the same Novak who had an offer from Valparaiso University that they pulled off the table. Really, it's not that Novak. That Novak had the scholarship pulled because he was doughy and slow. This Novak is 25 pounds lighter than the one who lost a scholarship that the Crusaders tried to give back when they realized, like Michigan, how good he could be. Novak is perfect for John Beilein's offense. He is smart. He shoots the ball well and he passes it well. I'll be watching him for the next couple of years and enjoying every minute of it.

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7 Comments

Umm I'm all for Region guys getting some recognition but I don't see Novak being a real contributor for Michigan at all. Were you watching thet same games I was? He's a step slow on defense on anyone he's guarding, and if he's not hitting his 3, he's not going to be out there long. I hope he does well, I really do but I think that level may be a tad bit higher than he can compete.

I've been having fun watching too (though watching all of the team struggle to hit the basket against Duke was a bit painful).
I'm anxious to see how Zack improves under Beilien.
I think sometimes people forget that he's only a freshman with a few college games under his belt and the last few games were against very good teams.
I think he's done well considering and it's great seeing him get minutes. He'll get better as he gets more comfortable. Give the kid a chance!
Go Zack! Go Blue!

For whatever reason there seem to be people who just want to hate on Novak. Not only is he a freshman, he is a very young freshman, who Beilien apparently believes should be in the game down the stretch.

VU screwed up big time on this kid and you apparently weren't watching VU lose to Iona and LaSalle when you decided Novak isn't good enough for that team. Get real.

12 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists tonight.
It's obvious he's gotten over last month's ankle injury setback and is getting more comfortable with college play.
Go Zack!
I would have loved for him to go to VU if that's what he wanted. Then we could easily go and watch him in person. But considering it's his life, that makes it his decision. It's not like he owed it to the region to go to VU.
And he seems to be doing quite fine where he is.